Side by side

Dillinger vs Private Notes

Both stand on note-taking apps. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.

Dillinger

Free plan Web

Dillinger combines a live Markdown preview with file import, export, and supported storage integrations at no cost. Note that offline work uses local drafts, while cloud sync depends on connectivity.

Visit Dillinger

Private Notes focuses on local, offline note management with optional encryption and straightforward organisation tools. Its browser storage and self-hosting model suit users who do not need cloud synchronisation.

Visit Private Notes

The facts

	Dillinger	Private Notes
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Open source	Not published	Not published
Runs on	Web	Self-hosted, Web
Lowest paid plan	Free or on request	Free or on request
Plans published	1	1
Maker	Not published	Not published
Website	dillinger.io	notes.idrix.fr
On note-taking apps	#153 of 216	#157 of 216

Dillinger: what it does well

Free plan has no signup or usage limits.
Preview renders Markdown as you type.
Exports Markdown, styled HTML, and PDF.
Works offline after the initial load.
Offers GitHub, Dropbox, Drive, OneDrive, and Bitbucket integrations.

What to know first

Cloud sync requires connectivity.
Offline editing begins only after the initial load.
Available platform is web.

Private Notes: what it does well

Free and open-source under the MIT License
Works offline as a Progressive Web App
Optional AES-GCM note encryption
Full-text search across titles, content, and tags
JSON export and import for backups

What to know first

Notes remain stored locally on one device
No external servers or cloud storage
HTTPS is required for self-hosting features
No integrations are listed

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